Control knobs



Jan. 23, 1968 G. SKINNER 3,364,786

CONTROL KNOBS Filed May 24, 1965 INVENTOR Harvey G. Skinner United States Patent 3,364,786 CONTROL KNOBS Harvey G. Skinner, Ligonier, Pa., assignor to Westmoreland Plastics Company, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 24, 1965, Ser. No. 458,211 1 Claim. (Cl. 74-553) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A control knob of generally cup shape having a cylindrical peripheral surface and an inner axial stem with a central bore for engaging a shaft to be rotated, a cylindrical recess in the peripheral surface having a slot extending into the interior of the knob body, an index member integral with the body extending parallel to the axis and radially outwardly from the body above the slot to form access slots therebetween and a band in the recess having ends extending into the slots.

This invention relates to control knobs and particularly to a knob having a removable circumferential dial band and a pointer or index member parallel to the axis of said knob.

Generally, control knobs for stoves, space heaters and a vast number of other house appliances, industrial tools and the like are provided with dials or indicators imprinted into a surface extending generally radially from the axis of the knob. This practice required that special knobs be made or imprinted for each different use. Perhaps more significant from the user standpoint is the fact that, with the imprinting on a radial surface, the user is required to stoop or bend, particularly where the knob is at a low level, such as on a stove. Knobs have been proposed in which a circumferential dial band is resiliently held in place by spring means or rubber bands. Such bands are prone to slip and get out of proper alignment and have not proven satisfactory.

I have invented a control knob having a removable or replaceable circumferential dial band and a pointer or index member parallel to the axis of said knob.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a generally cup-shaped body having a cylindrical peripheral surface and an inner axial extending stem having a central bore for engaging a shaft to be rotated, a cylin drical recess in said peripheral surface, terminating in a slot passing through the peripheral surface into the interior of the body, an index or pointer member integral with the body extending parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface and radially outwardly therefrom above the slot to form two access slots therebeneath into the body slot and a band in said recess having ends extending through said access slots into the interior of the body and fixed therein against movement.

In the foregoing general description I have set out certain objects, advantages and purposes of my invention. Other objects, purposes and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a knob according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the knob of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the knob of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the knob of FIG- URES 14 showing the dial band partly in place.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated a cupshaped knob having a cylindrical peripheral surface 10 and circular face plate 11. An inner axial stem 12 having a central bore 13 is adapted to slidably engage a shaft (not shown) to be rotated such as, for example, the gas valve shaft of a cooking stove. The outer peripheral surface is provided with a cylindrical recess 14 having a slot 15 through the bottom thereof into the interior of the knob. The recess 14 is spaced from both edges of the cylindrical peripheral surface. A radial flange 16 is preferably provided on the edge of the cylindrical peripheral surface 10 remote from face plate 11. An axially extending crest or index piece 17 extends radially outwardly from the surface of the cylindrical peripheral surface 19, radially above slot 15 to form two access slots 18 and 19, one on either side of the crest or index piece 17, communicating from recess 14 to slot 15. Preferably an axial slot 20 is provided in index piece 17 to receive a colored pointer or index strip (not shown). A dial band 21 is placed in recess 14 with the ends 21a and 21b extending through slots 18 and 19 into slot 15 and deformed around the body portion bounding slot 15 to form an immovable band. Strengthening ribs 22 extending between the interior of cylindrical surface 10 and stem 12 may be provided to give rigidity and strength to the knob.

In the foregoing general description, I have set out a preferred embodiment of my invention. However, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

1. A control knob comprising a generally cup-shaped body having a cylindrical peripheral surface and an inner axially extending stern having a central bore for engaging a shaft to be rotated, a cylindrical recess in said peripheral surface, a bifurcated slot passing through the peripheral surface into the interior of the body, an index member integral with the body extending parallel to the axis and radially outwardly from the body above and forming a dividing member between the parts of the bifurcated slot and a resilient band in said recess having ends extending through said bifurcated slot into the interior of the body and fixed therein against movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,656,010 1/1928 Meacham 236-15 1,671,633 5/1928 Flegel et a1. 116124.3 2,420,639 5/1947 Leonard 116-129 MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner.

FRED C. MATTERN, Examiner.

W. S. RATLIFF, Assistant Examiner. 

